Transport means or vehicle, or a fluid bed

ABSTRACT

A vehicle comprising a bottom plate adapted to be supported on a gas cushion, said bottom plate having a flat bottom surface and series of grooves therein, the grooves of each series being substantially parallel to each other, and said series extending at an angle to each other, whereby all the grooves are in open connection with each other when a gas cushion is to be formed between said bottom plate and a flat supporting surface under it to facilitate the initial raising of the vehicle.

[ 51 May 22,1973

United States Patent 1 De Vries 3,124,209 3/1964 Flipse 3,209,92910/1965 Petersen et a1. 3,318,557 5/1967 Zhed et al..........,.3,513,934 S/l970 Crowley R t. o m a m .m m n E v V 2 m rf. S V6 1 m 2 EDN M n am 8 RH om NU m A m R v TA .m m m Primary ExaminerKenneth H.Betts Att0rney-Lester Horwitz [22] Filed: Mar. 10, 1971 [21] Appl. No.:122,873

[57] ABSTRACT A vehicle comprising a bottom plate adapted to besupported on a gas cushion, said bottom plate having a [30] ForeignApplication Priority Data Mar. 16, 1970Netherlands.......................

E rw E BNZB 1.7 1 4% 54 1 21 90 x 1 0 8V 1 m m B mmn C r. 8 0.0 "m L Csum UIF 111 2100 555 .111

formed between said bottom plate and a flat support- [56] Referencescued ing surface under it to facilitate the initial raising of UNITEDSTATES PATENTS the e- 180/125 1 Claim, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTED HAY 221973 SHEET 1 [IF 2 I N VENTOR flww FIG. 3

PATENTEfiI- YAYZZ I975 SHiEI 2 OF 2 INVENTOR TRANSPORT MEANS OR VEHICLE,OR A FLUID BED BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention generallyrelates to a transport means or vehicle provided with a bottom plate orplatform on which a load can be placed, and under which a pressure fluidcan be supplied to form a supporting fluid cushion on which the bottomplate can be lifted and moved.

The invention is also aimed at a fluid bed comprising a bottom plate orplatform on which a load can be placed, and a supporting surface orfloor under it, on which the bottom plate can be lifted and moved bysupplying a pressure fluid between the bottom plate and the supportingsurface.

In prior devices of the latter type the bottom plate and the supportingsurface under it are initially flat against each other, and the pressurefluid usually consisting of pressure air is supplied between the bottomplate and the supporting surface through a great number of openings inthe bottom plate or the supporting surface. The pressure area on whichthe pressure fluid is acting to lift the bottom plate off the supportingsurface is in that case, however, only equal to the total sectional areaof the supply openings so that for initially lifting the bottom plate inorder to be moved a very high pressure is required, which is much higherthan the pressure which is afterwards required for the motion once thebottom plate is lifted off the supporting surface with the pressurefluid acting on the entire area of the bottom plate.

Such a condition is also present in the more general embodiment as atransport means or vehicle which is adapted to move along any supportingsurface. A high starting power is required for the lift off.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has as its object toovercome the aforesaid disadvantage of prior cushion borne vehicles sothat a lower starting power is required for the lift off.

According to the invention this improvement is effected by a surfaceoutline of the fluid cushion in the form of series of grooves, thegrooves of each series being parallel to each other, and said seriesextending at an angle to each other, whereby all the grooves are in openconnection with each other.

The type described as a fluid bed in the foregoing may also comprise abottom plate and a supporting surface under it, each consisting of aplate which is provided with ribs on the side of the fluid cushion, saidribs extending in one plate parallel in a first direction, and in theother plate in a second direction substantially at right angles to saidfirst direction, with the pressure fluid being supplied in the fluidcushion through one or more openings in the grooves between the ribs ofthe bottom plate. Due to the positioning of the ribs in the respectiveplates, at right angles to each other, a great number of connectingpassages are formed so that all parts of the space between said platesare directly to be reached by a pressure fluid which is introducedtherein. The pressure fluid is now directly acting on a much greaterarea so that for the initial raising of the bottom plate a much lowerpressure is required than in the prior devices of this type, saidpressure for the lift off now being not much-greater than the pressurewhich is afterwards required for the motion, since said initial pressurecan immediately act on all parts of the bottom plate between the ribs,and on the non-abutting parts of the respective ribs, which parts aredirectly to be reached by the fluid.

In one embodiment of the invention the plates are of concrete, with theribs being formed by a corrugated, fluted or ribbed and grooved metalplating which is attached to the concrete. The plates obtain theirhearing power from the concrete which may or may not be reinforced ormay be strengthened by beams, the ribs forming guiding or slidingsurfaces when the plates move along each other.

The invention can also be realized in such a way that the ribbed bottomplate is included as a bottom plate in the actual structure of acontainer.

In the general embodiment as a transport means or vehicle a surfaceoutline of the fluid cushion in the form of series of grooves with saidseries at right angles to each other is also preferred. A practicalembodiment is characterized in that the bottom surface of the bottomplate is provided with series of grooves, the grooves of each seriesbeing parallel to each other, and said series extending at an angle toeach other, whereby all the grooves are in open connection with eachother. Preferably also in that case the bottom surface of the bottomplate is provided with series of grooves with said series at rightangles to each other.

In a preferred embodiment the bottom surface of the bottom plate hasseries of grooves, each series comprising a great number of smallergrooves substantially parallel to each other, and at an angle theretoand/or at right angles thereto a smaller number of larger groovesparallel to each other, or one larger groove, with pressure fluid beingsupplied to said one or more larger grooves. Coupled to a propulsionunit said one or more larger grooves can partly or wholly be in openconnection with one or more jets over their length, with said one ormore connecting openings or slits being adjustable to control the fluidsupply to the fluid cushion. Further said one or more jets can also beprovided with adjustable nozzles. This can also be effective to providea directing or steering effect.

The invention is described in more detail in the following specificationwith reference to the drawings, in which examples of the invention areshown.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an isometric general view ofa transport bed to be fluidized, according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a detail view in section of a small part of the fluid bed;

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of a transport floor, along which acarrying platform can move;

FIG. 4 is an isometric bottom view ofa container, the bottom surface ofwhich is formed by a builtin carrying platform;

FIG. 5 is a view of a general embodiment of the invention as a transportmeans or vehicle having a carrying bottom provided with crossing seriesof parallel grooves;

FIGS. 6-8 show in various embodiments a carrying bottom having someseries comprising a great number of smaller grooves, and at an anglethereto or at right angles thereto a pair of larger grooves, or onelarger groove;

FIG. 9 shows a carrying bottom of a transport means or vehicle inconnection with a propulsion unit; and

FIG. 10 shows the adjustable fluid connection between a jet and a largecarrying bottom groove.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1 a part of a transportbed generally indicated with l is seen, comprising a supporting floor 2,along which at least one carrying platform 3 can be moved by providing apressure fluid cushion 4 between the supporting floor 2 and the carryingplatform 3. To that effect pressure air, for instance, is suppliedbetween the supporting floor 2 and the platform 3 so that the platformis lifted from the supporting floor to bear on the air cushion. A heavyload can bear on the platform 3, but due to the fluid cushion 4 theplatform 3 with the load 5 bearing thereon can easily be moved along thetransport floor 2 With the use of only a low force, as is known.

Once the carrying platform 3 and the load 5 are carried by the fluidlayer 4, only a low pressure is to be maintained in the cushion layer 4,while constantly supplying fresh pressure air to compensate for theleakage losses along the edges of the platform 3. A disadvantage of theknown devices of this type, however, is that to bring the platform 3initially off the floor 2 a much higher pressure is required, thecarrying surfaces of the floor and the platform in all known casesalways being as smooth as possible and bearing flat against each other.This makes it necessary to bring the carrying surfaces first from eachother with a high initial pressure or a pressure blast to provide acushion layer 4 in the then formed interspace. After that it does notrequire a high pressure to maintain the cushion 4.

The invention now provides a transport device comprising a fixedsupporting floor 2 and a platform 3 which is movable thereon, andnormally rests on the floor but by supplying pressure fluid under it canbe lifted from the floor 2 to be carried by the fluid so as to be easilymoved along the floor. To facilitate the liftoff from the floor now,however, an always existing space between the top surface of the floorand the bottom surface of the platform is provided, having supplyopenings, through which pressure fluid can be introduced in said spaceto lift the platform from the floor for moving purposes. Said pressurespace 4 is formed between two plate surfaces 6 and 7 on top of the floor2 and on the bottom side of the platform 3 respectively, one of whichhas ribs and interjacent grooves in a first direction, and the otherhaving ribs and grooves in a second direction substantially at rightangles to said first direction.

In FIG. 1 and 2 the ribs in the top plate 6 of the floor 2 are indicatedwith 8 and the ribs in the bottom plate '7 of the platform 3 with 9. Dueto the crosswise course of the interjacent grooves, of which those inthe floor 2 are indicated with 10 and those in the platform 3 with 11,said grooves are always communicating with each other so that wheninitially supplying the carrying fluid, it immediately covers the entiresupporting surface. This results in the pressure fluid now actingdirectly on a great area so that for lifting the platform 3 with theload 5 placed thereon now a much lower pressure is reinvention saidstructure comprises a concrete slab 12 on which a ribbed plate 6 or 7 isattached, said plate of course being arranged on top of the floor 2 andat the bottom against the platform 3 respectively. The concrete 12 formsthe strength member and is usually reinforced. The pressure fluid issupplied in the pressure space 4 below the platform 3 through a numberof openings 13 in the platform. Said openings 13, which are shown at theside of the platform 3 in FIG. 1, are connected to a manifold line whichis not shown in said figure, to which line the pressure fluid issupplied from a pressure source which is also not shown.

FIG. 3 shows a transport floor 2 in a shed 14, on which floor heavyloads 5 such as containers 15 or large loading cases can be moved bymeans of a fluid cushion. At 16 an entrance gate is indicated, throughwhich containers or the like are supplied to be carried off through oneof the exits of the shed 14, indicated at 17, to the selecteddestination. During the transport along the floor 2 in the shed 14 thecarrying platform 3 remains oriented in substantially the same directionon the supporting floor 2 so that the respective ribs 8,9 and grooves10,11 in the floor and the platform respectively remain substantially atright angles to each other.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the invention, with the carrying platform3 which is ribbed at the bottom side being incorporated in the structureof a container 15 to form the bottom surface thereof. The pressuresource, from which the carrying fluid is supplied under the ribbedbottom surface of the container, is arranged within or on the container15, or the fluid is supplied thereto through a pressure air connectionfor instance.

A more general embodiment of the invention as a transport means adaptedto be moved along any supporting bottom layer is illustrated in FIGS. 5to 10.1ncidentally it is observed that in said figures the parts whichcorrespond to those from the preceding figures, are indicated with thesame reference numerals. Said transport means which can be used on anybottom ground has a carrying bottom 3, the bottom surface 7 of whichhaving series of grooves 11 and 11, with the grooves of each seriesbeing parallel to each other, and said series extending at an angle toeach other. At the crossings the grooves 11 and 11 are in openconnection with each other so that the entire bottom surface 7 of thecarrying bottom 3 is immediately to be reached by a pressure fluid whichis supplied under it, the carry ing cushion 4 to be formed directlycovering the entire carrying area 7 to facilitate the lift-off of thetransport means from the bottom ground.

In the Figures communicating series of smaller grooves 11 and largergrooves 11' are shown, said series extending at right angles to eachother, except in FIG. 7 and 8, in which also series of grooves 11 and 11extending at different angles are seen. In FIG. 7 the series extend onlyin the central part of the carrying surface 7 at right angles. Theseries of smaller grooves 11 at the sides recede somewhat rearwards. Thepressure fluid supply takes place through a manifold line 18 which isconnected to a pair of larger longitudinal grooves 11'. In FIG. 8 at thesides series of smaller grooves 11 bending rearwards are seen,terminating at a larger central groove 11, or a manifold line 18provided at the front of the transport means.

In FIG. 9 a transport means according to the inventionis illustrated andconnected thereto a propulsion unit comprising one or more jets 19 whichare provided with adjustable jet nozzles 20. By a separate jet controlwith various nozzles 20 or by means of one adjustable central nozzle 20an orienting or steering effect can be obtained.

As shown the jets 19 extend along one or more larger grooves 11' in thebottom surface 7 of the carrying plate 3, with the grooves 11 beingpartly or wholly in open connection with the co-extensive jets 19 overtheir length, said open connection being indicated at 21 in FIG. 10, inwhich a cross-sectional view of a larger groove 11 and a jet 19connected thereto is seen. Said connection 21 can comprise one or moreopenings or slits and is controllable by means of an adjustable controldevice 22, as indicated in FIG. 10. Accordingly the supply of pressurefluid from jets 19 to the carrying cushion 4 can take place in acontrollable manner. To prevent the fluid from escaping from thecarrying cushion as much as possible, skirt closures 23 are providedalong the bottom edges as required, as schematically shown in FIG. 9. Itis observed that in order not to obstruct the view on the more essentialparts of the device, the skirts 23 at the front side of the carryingbottom, against which is seen, are not shown.

Finally it is observed that the embodiments of the invention, which aredescribed in the foregoing, are only by way of example and thus are notto be interpreted in a limiting sense. Within the scope of the inventionspecial closures can be provided along the bottom edges of the carryingplatform, or other arrangements be provided, and variations ormodifications be effected.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A conveying means comprising a plate having a bottom surface formedwith a plurality of relatively small adjacent fluid conveying means onwhich surface a pressure fluid is to be supplied to form a fluid cushionto lift and move a load, characterized in that said fluid conveyingmeans comprise a series of relatively smaller grooves which aresubstantially parallel to each other and at least one relatively largegroove extending to an angle to said smaller grooves and intersectingall said smaller grooves to form a great number of interconnecting fluidpassages.

1. A conveying means comprising a plate having a bottom surface formedwith a plurality of relatively small adjacent fluid conveying means onwhich surface a pressure fluid is to be supplied to form a fluid cushionto lift and move a load, characterized in that said fluid conveyingmeans comprise a series of relatively smaller grooves which aresubstantially parallel to each other and at least one relatively largegroove extending to an angle to said smaller grooves and intersectingall said smaller grooves to form a great number of interconnecting fluidpassages.